I am always being told that I should keep the packaging to my needles (esp my Addis bcs they sometimes aren't labeled to clearly) or saving at least one band from the yarn that I am using for reference purposes (I guess in case I run out and need a specific dye lot or washing instructions etc)

I try very hard to do this, but I end up losing the band to the yarn or getting frustrated seeing Addi bags all around the house (not to mention the guilt I feel when I see just how many there are with all the little price tags still attached, so I can see how much $$ I have spent on needles:shifty:, but I LOVE Addis, so I just keep buying them:lol: I feel a little less guiltiy seeing them without the bags bcs I don't have to look at the tags anymore! lol)

So how do you organize these things? I am not a big organizer, and I have adult ADD, so sometimes I have to force myself into a "system" in order to get stuff organized, and the simpler the better!!:shrug:

mwedzi

05-16-2007, 02:52 PM

No help for you, cuz I always lose them too. Just wanted to say cool avatar. Surely I know the name of that, the somethingorother nebula?

MamaMer

05-16-2007, 02:54 PM

It is called an hourglass nebula. :mrgreen:

PaperGirl

05-16-2007, 02:54 PM

For yarn, Ive taken to cutting a strand off, and taping it to the ball band, and sticking it in a drawer. That is, only when I actually USE the yarn...if its untouched...its still in the bands.

Needles..I put all my circs of one length in a ziploc...and write in Sharpie on the bag what length they are.

And then the bags go in the box under the side table in the living room.

SandraEllen

05-16-2007, 02:59 PM

I've recently started a knitting journal so when i start a project, I start a page for that project and take one of the ball bands and paste in into my book

Braden

05-16-2007, 03:02 PM

For yarn, I just save the band. For needles, I keep the Options in their case, and all my Addis in their original packaging in a Staples 8 drawer plastic container, with the drawers labled by size.

GinnyG

05-16-2007, 03:31 PM

At my knitting class last night my instructor made a gread suggestion for organizing circulars.

She took an old pair of jenas and cut the font of the leg out (to make a flat panel). She then mad small slits on either side of the panel and threaded the circ through. She started at the top and worked down putting the needles in according to size. She said she hung the leg on a Pant hanger in the closet and if she needs to take it anywhere just unclips and rolls the whole thing up.

I have a nice little needle organizer I got a fabric shop but I thought her idea was clever.

simplethings

05-16-2007, 04:18 PM

Whenever I come home from SEX I always copy my new yarn info into an Excel spreadsheet. Of course I include color and dye lot info--all the basics on the band, but I also like to include my own description of the yarn as well as how much I paid and where I bought it from. Sometimes I'll include what project I purchased the yarn for and who I'll be giving it to.
I've also started knitting up gauge swatches and I add that info as well (the gauge on the band is usually different from my own gauge).

Once I know I have all the info then I'm safe to toss or lose the ball band. I tend to hoard them though in shopping bags stored in my closet. :shrug:

remclave

05-16-2007, 06:49 PM

For needles, I just use my needle guide to verify diameter before starting a project. As for yarn bands, I never thought about it.:aww:

chrislt8

05-17-2007, 02:40 PM

OK - I have to admit that I am a compulsively organized person (some call it anal :rollseyes:) but I go nuts when my things aren't organized and I just have to find a system. Now, keeping in mind that I am a new knitter and on my first project even I have to laugh at myself for already having a jounal system set up :roflhard:. Here's my "creation" (I am sure it is not new to the experienced knitters but thought I would pass it on):

I went to Staples and got:
1" binder rings (like the rings in 3 ring notebooks - just no covers)
Package of presentation sleeves that hold "multiple pages"
Package of Card Stock Weight (110) paper
Package of those fasterners that you can push through paper and then fold out the two prongs flat on the wrong side of the paper.

I used the computer to print on each page of the card stock the info I wanted to keep for each project (date knitted (ie spring 2007), who it was for, book, author, pattern, size, needle, gauge, and a couple of lines for notes/adjustments to pattern. I printed this info in the top left corner of the page. I left enough room down the right side of the paper to tape on my yarn band, added a box for a picture of the completed projct and a box for the gauge swatch. I printed out a bunch of these so that I can just grab one and fill out as I go on a project - now, regular paper would do just fine for this as they are kept in the presentation sleeves, but I like the weight of the heavier paper so indulged myself a little.

The presenation sleeves go on the binder rings. I filled out the info on the project I am working on on the card stock, taped the yarn band down the side, used the fasterners to hold the gauge swatch onto the card stock, and slipped the entire page into one of the presentation sleeves. Now all the info I need re the item is on one page, I can go back and touch and feel the yarn (or use the swatch for future washing experiments), the system can grow as I complete more projects, I can easily take any page out and rearrange in the future as I might want (by ages, skill levels, type of project, sizes, etc).

You can put two projects in each sleeve - one facing each way...

I am playing with different ideas for a "cover" but that is a personal/option type thing :-)

Sounds a little complicated - but really VERY simple and easy...and NEAT :happydance:

Hildegard_von_Knittin

05-17-2007, 07:16 PM

I don't lose them... I just throw them right away; no hope for me to ever organize them, so I don't disillusion myself by keeping them ;-)

charmy

05-17-2007, 08:08 PM

I just bought a ball winder and I went crazy making center pull balls of every skein of yarn I can get my hands on. I found it's pretty handy to roll up the ball band and stick it in the center of the ball.

As far as needles go, I keep a few needle gauges around the apartment. Luckily most of my dpns are either stamped with the size or color coded.

MamaMer

05-18-2007, 02:56 PM

I don't lose them... I just throw them right away; no hope for me to ever organize them, so I don't disillusion myself by keeping them :wink:

I will admit that this has probably happened to me on more than one occasion, mostly bcs I never really paid attention to that sort of thing, until several people were aghast that I didn't keep at least one wrapper!!:oo:

I like the journal idea, I think I might actually keep my swatches and put them in there too, along with the ball band, just so I can see how I evolve as a knitter over time.

I love your idea too chrislt8, but however many good intentions and how much gusto I would start a project like that with, my ADD would soon kick in and it would overwhelm me. I hate having this, it makes my life a nightmare sometimes!:cry: I a hoping I can keep up with the journal!!

Thanks for the ideas, now I need to go find a sz8 addi in an addi needle stack...:lol:

rebecca

05-18-2007, 03:57 PM

I have my addis in a very full bucket http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/rebeccame/th_smDSCN1635.jpg (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/rebeccame/smDSCN1635.jpg) and my Denises and Options are in my knitting bag along with a small ziplock that has the band from the yarn and my wip and yarn in it's holder http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/rebeccame/Yarn%20Porn%20and%20Other%20Goodies/th_bexwoolholderapril162007.jpg (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/rebeccame/Yarn%20Porn%20and%20Other%20Goodies/bexwoolholderapril162007.jpg) But, you also have to remember that I am a monogamous knitter, I generally only have 1 project going at a time, so it's easy for me to keep it organized :wink: